Urgent, Not Emergency: The Thanet Phone List That Earns Its Fridge Magnet

It is 8pm in Margate. Something is wrong, but nobody is bleeding and nothing is on fire. You do not want to ring 999, and you cannot wait until Monday. That gap — urgent but not an emergency — is where most of us freeze.

This is not a full directory. It is a fridge-door list for the moments in between. Numbers and opening hours do change, so check before you rely on anything here. And if someone is in immediate danger, is seriously ill or injured, or a crime is happening now, ring 999 first. Everything else can start here.

The short version: stick this on the fridge

Number	Use it when	Have ready
999	Immediate danger to life, serious injury, crime in progress, fire	Exact location, what has happened, how many people are involved
111	NHS urgent help when you are not sure what to do, GP is closed, or you need advice about a late-opening pharmacy	NHS number if you know it, symptoms, medicines, postcode
101	Police non-emergency: property damage, a crime reported after the event, community safety concerns	Time, place, description, registration numbers, your contact details
116 123	Samaritans, free and 24/7, for anyone who needs to talk	Nothing formal — just be ready to say what is on your mind
0808 2000 247	National Domestic Abuse Helpline, free and 24/7	Nothing formal — you can call without a script
105	Power cut or electricity supply problem	Postcode, account or meter number, whether anyone vulnerable is affected
0800 111 999	Gas smell, gas leak or carbon monoxide concern	Address, where the smell is strongest, whether anyone feels unwell
0330 303 0368	Southern Water supply or sewer issues	Postcode, account number, what you can see or smell
01843 577000	Thanet District Council main switchboard; ask for the out-of-hours emergency line if calling outside office hours	Address, reference number, what the immediate risk is
03000 41 41 41	Kent County Council for highways, social care and other county services	Address, road name or junction, reference number if you have one

NHS 111: the 'I am not sure' number

NHS 111 is for urgent medical help when it is not a 999 situation. Think: your GP is closed, you are not sure whether you need A&E, a child has a temperature that is worrying you, or you need to know which pharmacy in Thanet is open late. You can ring 111 or use 111 online. Online can be quicker for simple questions, but if you are worried about a young child, an older person or someone with a long-term condition, ringing is fine.

Before you dial, have the person's NHS number if you know it, their date of birth, postcode, a list of medicines and allergies, and a clear description of what has changed and when. Say 'I am in Thanet' early. The service needs your postcode to point you to the right local option. If symptoms get worse while you wait for a callback, do not sit it out — ring 999 if it becomes an emergency.

999 and 101: the line between now and later

999 is for now. 101 is for after. If a crime is happening, someone is hurt, or there is an immediate risk, do not use 101. If your shed was broken into last night, your car was damaged while you were in Broadstairs town centre, or you want to report a concern about antisocial behaviour that is not happening right now, 101 is the non-emergency police line.

With 101, be ready with the time, place and what you saw. If there is a vehicle involved, a registration number helps. Ask for a reference number and write it down. If you are passed to another force or department, that reference is your anchor.

When the house or street is the problem

A power cut is a good example of an urgent-but-not-999 call. Ring 105 — free from most phones — and have your postcode and meter number ready. If you have a neighbour who relies on medical equipment or is especially vulnerable, say so. For gas, the number is 0800 111 999. If you smell gas, do not flick light switches or use a mobile phone near the leak; get out, then call. For water, Southern Water's number is 0330 303 0368. Have your account number if you can find it, but do not delay calling if water is coming through a ceiling.

For council issues, Thanet District Council's main number is 01843 577000. Outside office hours, ask for the out-of-hours emergency line. Be clear about the immediate risk: a dangerous structure, flooding, a fallen tree blocking a road, or whatever else cannot wait until Monday. For highways and some social care matters, Kent County Council is 03000 41 41 41. If you are not sure which council owns the problem, say your postcode and ask them to point you to the right queue.

Mental health and domestic abuse: calls that do not fit a tidy queue

If you are struggling with your mental health, you do not need a diagnosis or a perfect explanation to ask for help. Samaritans is free on 116 123, 24/7. NHS 111 can also direct you to urgent mental health support in Kent and Medway — listen to the options and choose the mental health route. Release the Pressure, on 0800 107 0160, is a free confidential line for people in Kent and Medway who need mental health support.

For domestic abuse, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247, free and 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, ring 999. If you cannot speak, you can use the silent solution by pressing 55 when prompted on a 999 call. Local support is also available through Thanet District Council and east Kent services; the national helpline can talk you through what is near you without you having to explain everything twice.

What to have ready before you dial

Keep a note in your phone or by the fridge with the basics: postcode, NHS numbers for the household, regular medicines, allergies, council tax or housing reference, utility account numbers, and a neighbour's number. When something goes wrong, you will not want to be hunting for a meter number in the dark.

For any call, be ready to say where you are, what has happened, when it started, what you have already tried, and whether anyone is vulnerable. Ask 'Is this the right service for this?' if you are not sure. Write down the time, the reference number and any callback arrangement. If you are passed around, ask the next person to confirm they are taking ownership of the issue.

The fridge card, in plain text

Copy this into a note, print it, or write it on the back of an envelope: 999 for now; 111 for NHS urgent advice; 101 for police non-emergency; 116 123 for Samaritans; 0808 2000 247 for domestic abuse; 105 for power cuts; 0800 111 999 for gas; 0330 303 0368 for Southern Water; 01843 577000 for Thanet District Council; 03000 41 41 41 for Kent County Council.

It will not cover everything. But it covers the gap between a disaster and a Monday morning — and that is the gap where a fridge magnet earns its keep.